America's forsaking the Word of God

INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR, LISA LICKEL

Lisa Lickel lives in the rolling hills of western Wisconsin. Surrounded by books and dragons, she writes inspiring fiction. Her novels include the Buried Treasure mystery series (The Last Bequest, The Map Quilt and The Newspaper Code) and the award-winning romance, Meander Scar; A Summer in Oakville, co-authored with best-selling author Shellie Neumeier, Healing Grace, The Last Detail and a series of historical early reader books, First Children of Farmington among others. She also writes short stories, feature articles, and radio theater. She is a member of Wisconsin Writers Association and the Chicago Writer’s Association. Lisa loves to encourage new authors through mentoring, speaking, and leading workshops. Lisa also is an avid book reviewer and blogger, and a freelance editor. She is married to a high school biology teacher, and they have two sons and daughters in law, grandchildren and a grand-kitty.

Good morning everyone, I’m so tickled to have Lisa Lickel with us on the blog today. I’ve just finished her book, “Everything About You,” from the Prism Book “Love Is” series, and oh my goodness— it is great!

Lisa, when did you first realize you wanted to write? And what’s the first thing you ever wrote? (Love notes excluded)

Thanks for having me here, DiAne. Wow—when did I first want to write? I suppose I really enjoyed writing short stories in the fourth grade, one about kids lost in a cave. We had a fun teacher, Mr. Waltenburger—I mean, how could you not love that name? Then, later, in college I wrote and illustrated a rhyming children’s story about pollinating bees and sent away for information from a magazine article which replied they’d love to publish my book for $X—which, fortunately, I didn’t have.

I didn’t really start writing again until my kids were ready to fly the coop around 2000. I was gainfully employed and could afford to take a reputable writing course.

Gee, girl, wish I’d know about the illustrations, I would have loved to have shown them off in this interview. Oh well! Tell us about your family, where you grew up, and where you live now.

I have public school parents, grew up in Racine, Wisconsin (home of JI Case, WH Horlick family who malted milk, and Johnson Wax) with one younger brother who became a chemist. I went to college “up north” where I met my husband, and, of course, we settled on the eastern side of Wisconsin where he has been teaching science to high schoolers and we raised our two sons. But we’re getting ready to move to the western side of the state to a farm we bought years ago, and relax a bit. We’re grandparents now and look forward to spending more time with those young’uns.

Grandchildren. Ahh, God’s reward for being parents! Looking back, tell us what you wanted to be when you grew up?

That question makes me smile. I was looking at my baby book mom kept for me. Entries there, before kindergarten, say “nurse, teacher, mom.” I sort of got to be all of them—what mom isn’t part nurse and teacher?

That would be amen and amen! Changing gears for a moment—has there ever been a special moment when you felt the presence of God leading you in a direction you had no idea where His direction was leading? Tell us about that time.

Ooh, constantly, starting with the writing thing back in 2000/2001 when Jeremiah’s voice—in that Charleton Heston-Moses voice kept repeating over and over in my head, “I know the plans I have for you…” Every time I’d think, Really—are you sure, God? I’m supposed to write—what? And…and teach others? You mean, like, talk to people? But, but, but…And then when it wasn’t going so well, saying in my snippy voice, “If you want me to get a different job, God, you’re going to have to lay the perfect one on me.” So, He did. But it was rotten inside which only took me a day in that office to see. I haven’t cried so hard as I did that next morning, explaining that I couldn’t go back to that supposedly perfect office. Yeah, God knew the plans He had for me, I just had to trust Him.

Boy, do I know all about that snippy voice thingy. It took me a long time to turn loose and just write. It’s amazing you use that verse in Jeremiah 29:11. I have a plaque on my office desk, turned so I can see it while I’m writing, that quotes the whole verse. You’re a quicker study than I’ve been.

What is your favorite thing to do when you’re not writing?

I guess reading is a given, hm? Travel, think about travel, and lately, plan our new home. Can’t wait!

What is the greatest life changing moment in your life to date?

Becoming a grandparent! My kids waited quite a while to have kids of their own; they were excruciatingly responsible in putting some order to their lives first. But, oh…my older daughter-in-law wanted the women in her life—her mom and me—to be part of the birthing process for their first child, and though I hesitated, I was there! What an amazing experience. I still think about seeing our precious little one—it’s like watching a piece of soul come loose to be purposefully shared with others. Such a huge responsibility.

What a wonderful daughter-in-love you have to share that moment. The only word I can think of is …humbling…as you become part of God’s extraordinary plan and to once again think of those words “For I know the plans I have for you…” and apply them to that precious little gift from our Father.

Before we talk about your newest book, I must ask you to share your counsel for all the new writers reading this blog—words you wish you had received when you first entered this writing journey.

Publishing is a business. Period. You can be as starry-eyed and eager and loving and hopeful as you want as a writer sharing your blood, guts, and soul, but remember, you’re not writing to get published, you’re writing to be read.

The company that is investing a lot of money in you wants a good return, so you have to get into position to do that. Find and work with seasoned authors who are willing to share all parts of the business and what you need to know about the process of selling yourself.

Keep growing in your craft—you will never, ever know enough. And as soon as you learn something, it will change. Be flexible. Be kind, roll with the punches, don’t waste time with anyone who is jealous of sharing shelf space or unwilling to partner at a book signing. Seriously—life is too short. Turn around and help the next person up. Buy a few books and do some reviews. Network, network, network! And know when to take a break without any regrets or apologies.

I’m classifying your words in these last three paragraphs as MUST READ for all writers. Words I wish someone had told this starry-eyed, ignorant girl who years ago sent her first manuscript off, only to receive a rejection in the return mail. I threw those pages from my soul into a drawer for a number of years…until God did some serious remodeling in my life. Last year I found out, the hard way, of course, every word you’ve spoken above is the gospel according to life as a writer. Thank you, Lisa.

Now let’s talk about “Everything About You.” How about a little peek? And info where my readers can find this great read.

“She needs a movie set miracle, he needs cash…can a farmer morph into a movie star in five days?

If Shelly has her way, Danny will become America’s next heartthrob and she’ll get her own promotions company. He’s already gorgeous, a little naive, and needs to work on that accent. To Danny, Shelly is on the pompous side, but holds the key to his real dreams…if he can figure out all the rules, say the right things for the daily vlog session, keep his heart strings in place, dodge Shelly’s vicious former boyfriend and the movie star diva. Shelly’s about to lose a lot more than her heart if she can’t get a handle on her wounded pride and learn who to trust.

She needs a movie set miracle, he needs cash.

If Shelly has her way, Danny will become America’s next heartthrob and she’ll get her own promotions company. He’s already gorgeous but a little naïve. Danny considers Shelly pompous, but holds the key to his dreams…if he can follow the rules, say the right things for the vlogs, keep his heart strings in place, dodge Shelly’s vicious former boyfriend and the movie set diva. Shelly will lose a lot more than her heart if she can’t learn to trust.”

17 Responses

Thank you, DiAne, for having me here today, and your encouragement as well. Funny, I was just talking yesterday with someone who asked me how much it cost to publish a book…and so the ball keeps rolling!

Lisa, the pleasure is all mine! “Everything About You,” is truly a delightful book with superduper characters. Hope those reading this blog will rush over to Amazon.com to get their copy! Bundles of hugs and blessings. Maybe one day we’ll have a great retreat for all Prism Authors…wouldn’t that be fun? 🙂

DiAne is an artist, writer, photographer, and GriefShare facilitator who also leads an adult edit group for North Texas Christian Writers, LifeSavers is for adults who are serious about their writing skills.
DiAne's YA novel "Roped" released by Prism Book Group was named a YA finalist for the Grace Awards, finaled in The Christian Literary Henri Awards for 2016, and was named #5 in The Top Ten Christian Reads for Teens and Tweens 2016.
The second book, TWISTED, in the Roped Series was released by Pelican Book Group, July 14, 2017. Both are available on Amazon.com. Be sure to check DiAne's blog, "Moving the Ancient Boundaries" at https://dianegates.wordpress.com/